Florence Wiggins Purgason

West Columbia, SC – Funeral services for Florence Wiggins Purgason, 80, of West Columbia, will be held at 1:00 pm, Thursday, April 3, 2025, at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 3679 Leaphart Rd., West Columbia, SC, 29169, with interment in Celestial Memorial Gardens immediately following. The family will receive friends on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Barr-Price Funeral Home, 609 Northwood Rd., Lexington, SC.

Florence was born June 16, 1944, in Charleston, SC. She was a daughter of the late William W. Wiggins, Jr. and Virginia Louise Slaughter Wiggins. She was the youngest of three (3). She grew up in Charleston, SC, but later moved to Columbia, SC. She was a dedicated member of the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses for 64 years and she enjoyed attending Bible study courses and going out in the ministry. Florence married the love of her life, Harold D. Purgason on August 2, 1984, in Lexington, SC, in a private ceremony surrounded by close friends and family. They spent many years together enjoying life and traveling before his passing. She worked at the SC Department of Motor Vehicles where she retired. Her favorite pastime was spending time with her friends and family, especially at the beach. She took delight in shopping and working in her garden, planting and enjoying nature. She had a great love for her cats and always had a smile on her face when visited by her loved ones.

She is survived by her grandchildren, Ashley Neal Pritchard (Travis Pritchard) of Lexington, Stephanie M. Neal of Gilbert, Eric M. Ray of Spokane, Washington, Bret M. Ray of West Columbia and Noah S. Ray of Elgin; nieces, Kimberly Black of Lexington, Leah Ward of Neeses; nephew, William Lester Ward of Lexington; great grandchildren, Jayden Stuart Ray, Brayden John Neal, Nathaniel Ray and Aubrie Mae Pritchard; her cousins and her beloved cats, B.B., B.J. and Smokey.

She was predeceased by her husband, Harold D. Purgason; her daughter, Sonia R. Neal; her son, Stephen H. Ray; brother, William Warren Wiggins, Ill; sister, Ellen W. Ward; and nephews, William Warren Wiggins, lV and Kenneth Gregory Ward.

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